“I’m tired. I’m going to my room.”
I turned, but he grabbed my arm hard.
His face was dark, his voice a near growl.
“Layla! What the hell is going on with you?
You won’t listen to my explanation, you won’t take my gift—what exactly do you want?”
In the past, I would have backed down immediately, terrified he’d lose patience with me.
After all, he’d saved me once, and for a long time, he was all I had.
But now, that didn’t matter.
I pulled my arm free and pointed to my stomach.
“I’m pregnant. I’m tired.”
A flicker of panic crossed his eyes before he let go.
As I walked away, he called after me and handed me the necklace he’d picked up.
“I’m sorry, Layla. I lost my temper. Keep it. The past should stay in the past, and I’ll always be here for you from now on.”
Was he really telling me to let it go?
But a perpetrator has no right to tell the victim to “let it go.”
I shoved Adrian away and walked off without looking back.
The day before our anniversary, a stranger added me on WeChat. I accepted.
They sent me a video.
The footage was shot secretly, making it grainy, but I could still make out Bella in a wheelchair.
I instantly realized—this was from two years ago.
In the video, Bella was pouting.
“Adrian, I hate Layla. She stole my guaranteed graduate school admission, and she acts all high-and-mighty like some untouchable princess!”
“Just help me one more time, please—ruin her for me, okay?”
One of Adrian’s friends jumped in eagerly.
“Adrian, I’ve got something that’ll knock her out all night.”
Adrian shot him a sharp glare, instantly shutting everyone up.
“Bella, if you don’t like her, I can get her transferred to another school.”
Bella slammed her hands on the wheelchair armrests, her voice rising.
“Is this how you take care of me, after Mom told you to look after me before she died?!
If you won’t, I’ll find another man! Or I’ll just end it right now—nobody in this world loves me anymore!”
Adrian rubbed his temples, visibly tired.
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
The video cut off.
I typed out a reply to the sender—wanted to ask who they were, why they were helping me.
But in the end, I only sent two words: Thank you.
Anniversary Day.
Adrian wore a perfectly tailored suit.
Bella was in a custom designer gown, beautiful and ostentatious, as if she were the star of the event.
Many guests were there—most were my former college classmates.
“Layla’s so lucky. Even as a worn-out shoe, she still landed Adrian.”